Transmission-gearing for automobiles.



'PATENTED JULYZl, 190s.

' E. WHITGRAPT. I TRANSMISSION GEARING FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLIUATION FILED 001. 21, 1902.

2 SHEET8 SHBET l.

no monnn. I

No. vs4,209 A PATENTED.JULYZl,19O3-.

E. WHITGRAFT. TRANSMISSION GBARING FOR AUTOMOBILES. APPLICATION FILED 00w. 21,1992.

NO MODEL.

. UNITED STATES Patented July 21, i903.

P TENT Urrrcn,

EDGAR WHITCRAFT, OF BRIGHTON, NEW YORK, AssICNonoF ONE-HALF o ALFRED C.- BALDWIN, OF DERBY, CONNECTICUT.

TRANSMISSION-:GEARING FOR Auromogsicss.

SEEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 734,209, dated July 21, 1903. Application filed October 21,1902 Sensible-128,162. (Ila ino'dla) To (I/ZZ whom it may concern: 7

Be it knownthat I, EDGAR WHITCRAFT,-of Brighton, in the county of Monroe and State I of New York, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in TransmissiomGearing for Automobiles; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the figures of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear,

and exact description of the same-and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in-

Figure 1, a View, partly in elevation and partly in vertical central section, of transmission-gearing constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2, a detached view, in end elevation, of the low-speed friction-clutch cone, showing'the driven shaft in section; Fig. 3, a view in transverse section on the line a b of Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a view in inside elebation of the backward-motion friction-clutch cone, the low-speed gear, and the pinions in-v terposed between them; Fig. 5, a view in inside, elevation of, the high speed frictionclutch cone,-the medium speed gear, and the pinions interposed between them.

My invention relates to an improvement in transmission-gearing for automobiles, the object being to provide for easily and smoothly changing the speed of an automobile without the necessity of changing the speed of the motor thereof.

With these ends in view my invention consists in transmission-gearing having certain details of construction and combinations of parts, as willbe hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In carrying out my invention as herein shown I employ a main or crank shaft 2, on

which I locate asprocket-wheel 3,, driving a which provides for connecting the transmission-gearing with hangers, (not shown, but attached to the body of the automobile in any approved manner.) The said pinions 7 mesh into what I shall hereinafter call-the --lowl speed gear 11, which turns loosely upon the driven shaft 12, which carries a sprocketwheel driving a sprocket-chain passing over a sprocket-wheel on the shaft carrying the vehicle wheel's. scribed is too well understood to need I illustration. The said'low-speed gear 11 has an, outwardly-projecting'hub 13, on which the backward-motion cone 5, before mentionedfls journaled so as to rotate freely. end of the said hub 13 is provided with What I shall hereinafter call" the Flow-speed frictionclut ch' cone 14', which coacts with the low-speed clutch-cup 15, keyed upon the shaft 12, so as to rotate therewith, but so as to. be

free to move longitudinally with respect thereto. The saidcup 15 has an octagonal hub 16, over which fits and slides the octagonal sleeve 17 of the large backward-motion friction-clutch cup 18, the edges of which coact with the beveled flange 19, forming the cone proper oi the backward-motion cone 5. By making the hub 16 and the sleeve 17 0ctagonal they are preven tedfrom rotation with ,respect to each other and are left to move 80,

longitudinally independently of each other. I,

This same result can be secured in many other obvious ways.

The outer end of the octagonal, hub l6has secured to it an operating-head 20, furnished with a'lever 21, which is used for securing thelow forward speed and which on that account I shall for convenience call the lowspeed forward-movement lover. The said head 20 isformed with external screw-threads 9o taken into. by the internal threads of an opcrating-ring 22, secured to the outer end of the octagonal sleeve'17 by means of a groove 23 and an annular shoulder 24, so that the ring may be rotated independently of the 5 sleeve. When the lever 21 is used to rotate the head 20, the same will, on account of its threaded. connectionwith the'ring 22, move the low-speed friction-cup 15 into or out of engagement with the low-speed friction-1 o clutch 'cone'l l. When the cup 15 is engaged with the cone-14, the shaft 12 is driven and The'con'struction just de- 6 o The outer 65 thevelriclepropelledforwa'idfat its low speed, I

I because'the cup is keyed to the said shaft .12 and because the done 14 js-constantly.

erated, it causes the'ring 22 to move inward shall hereinafter call the high-speed frictions; clutch cone 28, the inner face of which, is

0 recessed and provided with inner peri'pherallever 21.

' tation'by the lever 25, means being provideddriven from the motor. v

' The operating-ring 22 is furnished with a lever 25, which on account of its function I shall for convenience call the backwardmotion lever. When the said lever is oporoutward over theoperati'ng-head 20. When the said ring is moved inward, the large backward-motion friction-clutch cup 18 is fric-.

tionally coupled with the flange 19 ofthe; backward-motion'cone 5, which runs in the,

opposite direction from themedium-sp'eed.

cone 14, which it drives through the pinions 7. When the lever 25 is operated, the operating-ring 22 is held against rotation by the 21 is operated the head 20 is held'against r0.-

for holding the. said levers stationary when they are not in use. Such means are well known and need no description. I j

I The main or crank shaft 2 -also carries a gear-Wheel 26, meshing into spur-teeth 27,

formed upon the outer periphery of what I geardeeth 29, meshed into by the outer pi-n-I ions of three pairs of pinion's, each p'air of which also comprises a pinion 31. All of these pinionsaremounted upon stud's 32, set into the centrally-arranged'frame-plate 9, be-

fore mentioned, and projecting therefrom on the side thereof opposite to the studs 8, carrving the pinions 7.

The said inner pinions 31 mesh into the medium-speed gear 33,which is loosely mounted on the driven shaft 12 and formed with an outwardly-extendinghub 34,

on which the'high-speed friction-clutch corie 35 turns loosely. The outer end of thesaid hub 34 terminates in the medium-speed friction-y The said, head 42 is provided with external screwthreads taken into by the internal screw-threads of an operating-ring 44, the inner portion of which is fo'rmed with a "groove 45, receiving ashoulder 46, formed upon the outer end ofthe octagonal sleeve 39 of the cup 40, whereby the said sleeve 39 is coupled with the operating-ring 44, which is free to rotate independently of the sleeve. The said operating-ring 44 is provided with an operating-lever 47, constituting the high-speed le= ver of the device. When the lever 43 is op- On theother hand, when the lever speed .of the cone v5.

erated, the lever 47 being at this time held against movement, the operating-head 42 will he moved inward or outward and, if-inward, frictionally couple the cup 37 and the cone 36. On the other hand, when the lever 47 is operated, the lever 43 being at this time held against movement, the operating-ring 44 will =move in'ward or outward and, if inward,

cause the large cup 40 to be frictionally coupledwiththe come 35.

, All'of the gears and 'pinions described are constantly driven; b'ut the'driven shaft 12 is turned in onedir'ectionor the other for propelling'the automobile forward or back only when one of the four friction-cups is brought into play. The gears 11 and 33 and the cones 14 and 36, itshould" be explained, rotate in the same direction while the backward-mo,-

W'hen it is desired to drive the automobile forward at the low'speed, the low-speed 1ever'21 is operated so as tofrictionally couple the cup15 with thecone 14.". Then as the cup 15is keyed to the shaft 12 the same will be rotated at the speed of the cone 14. If it is desired to drive the automobile forward at its highest speed, the high-speed lever 47 isoperated so as to frictionally couple the large cup 40 with the high speed friction clutch none 35." Then as the cup 4O is keyed to the "shaft 12 the same will be rotated at the speed ofthe said. high-speed cone 35. When it is desired to drive the automobile ata' medium speed, the. medium-speed lever 43 is operated seats to f-riotionally couple the cup 37 withthe cone 36. Then asthe cup 37 is keyed to the shaft12 thesame will be rotated at the f 95 speed of the cone 36. If itis desired to pro pel the automobile backward, the backward-f motion lever 25 is operated so as to'cause the. cup 18 to be frictionally coupled with the reversely-rotating backward-motion cone 5.

Then as the cup 18 is keyed to the shaft 12 the same will he reversely rotated at the It will thus be seen that while the device provides a medium, high, and low forward speed it provides only one backward speed.

If desired, means for positively connecting the cups and cones may be provided. Such means are illustrated as applied to the medium-speed forward cone 14,but may of course be applied many of the cones. A positive clutch of this character might be supplied,

for instance, as a'safety device in hill-climbing, for which purposea friction-coupling between-the cups and cones might be thought insutiicient; As shown, the outer face of the cone 14 is formed with two recesses 48, Fig.

2, adapted to receive clutch-bars 49, Fig. 1, secured to a cross-piece or head 50, located in a slot 51, formed in the shaft 12 and pro iectingat its endsinto recesses 52, formed in the cup 15, and receiving the said clutch-bars" 49, as well as springs 53 53, which exert a constaut effort to move them inward into the recesses 48 in the cone 15. The said head 50 is s tionf one 5 rotates in the opposite direction.

attached to the innerend of an operating-rod 54, extending outwardly through the center of the shaft 12 and through the operating head and connected at its outer end with a cam-head 55, furnished with a positive clutchlever ddand. formed with a cam-face 57, co-

acting with-a corresponding cam-face 58 upon the outer end of the head 20. When itis desired to positively couple the cup 15 and the cone 14, the lever 56 is operated,.as shown in Fig. 1, to permit the rod 54 to be, moved in ward by the springs 53, which force the clutchbar 49 into the recesses 48.

, It will be understood, of course, thatthe pa r-v ticular instrumeutalities for operatin'gthe cups may be arranged in a variety of ways and that other positive clutches might be employed .iustead'hf theonechosenffor il-lustra tio'nif- 11 would thereforerhave it unjderstood that Idonoti-iiniitinyself to the exact con- 'strluctionishowyn and described, but hold my- QseJfat'liiiertyWQ make such variations there- ;fairly-fall within the spirit and scope *LOf ni'y'invention.

' Having fullydescribed inyinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is V 1. In transmission-gearing fol-automobiles, the combination with a driven shaft, of a lowspeed friction-clutch cone, a backwardwmotion friction-clutch cone, a high speed friction-clutch cone and a medium-speed friction-clutch cone, all loosely-mounted upon the said shaft, and all constantly driven in the same direction with the exception of the backward-motion cone which rotates in the opposite direction from the others, friction-clutch cups coacting with the respective frictionward-motion friction-clutch cone geared to the said low-speed gear, a medium-speed gear loosely mounted upon the said shaft and car-' cones, all of" the said cups rotating with the said drivenshaft, and manual means for independently operating any one of the said friction-cups, whereby the shaft is rotated at the speed of the cone brought into play by the engagement with it of its coacting cup, the said backward-motion cone and highspeed cone being positively driven, and in turn 'driving the low-speed coneand the me diam-speed cone.

2. In transmission-gearingforautomobiles, the combination witha driven shaft, of a lowspeed gear loosely mounted thereupon and car rying a low-speed friction-clutchcone, a backrying a mediumspeed friction-.clutch-cone, a

high-speed friction-clutch cone geared to the V 3. 1ntransmission-gearingforautomobiles,

the combination with a driven shaft, ofa gear turning loosely thereupon and carrying a friction-clutch cone, a backward-motion friction-clutch cone, gearing between the said gear and backward-motion cone, whereby'the gear is driven in the opposite direction from the said backward-motion cone, frictioncl-utch cupsconnected with the said driven shaft for r'otatingthe same and enacting with the said cones, and means for operatingthe said cups independently of each other, whereby the shaft is rotated at the speed of the cone brought into play bythe engagement with it of its'coacting cup.

.- 4. Intransmission-gearing forautomohiles,

the combination with a driven shaft, of amedium-speed gear turning loosely thereupon and carrying a medium-speedfriction-clutch cone, a high-speed friction-clutch cone, gearing between thesaid medium-speed gear and high-speed cone, means for positively driving the said high-speed cone, friction-cups connected with the said shaft forrotating the same and respectively coacting with the said cones, and means for operating the said cups independently ofeach other, whereby the I shaft is rotated at the speed of the cone brought'into play by the engagement with it- ,of its coacting cup.

5. In transmission-gearing for automobiles,

the combination with ad'riven shaft,' oi a gear turning loosely thereupon and provided with a hub carrying a friction-clutch cone, a backward motion friction clutch cone loosely mounted upon the said hub and provided with external and internal gear-teeth, one or more pinious interposed between the internalgear-teeth of the backwardcnotion cone and the teeth of the said gear, whereby the same is driven in the opposite direction from the said backward-motion cone, which is driven through its external 'gearteeth, frictionclutch cups connected with the said driven shaft for rotating the same and'coacting with the said cones, and means for operating the y said cupsindependently of each other, where by the shaftis rotated at the speed of the cone brought into play by the engagement with itof its coacting cup.

. In transmission-gearing forautomobiles,

the combination with a driven shaft, of amediuni-speed gear mounted loosely thereupon and provided with a hub carrying a mediumspeed friction-clutch (some, a high-speed friction-clutch cone loosely mounted upon the I said hub and provided with external and in-' ternal teeth, one or more pairs of pinious interposed between the internal teeth of the high-speed cone and the medium-speed gear, whereby the latter is driven from the former and in the same direction, means for driving the said high-speed cone through its external teeth, friction-cups connected with the said shaft for rotating the same and respectively coacting with the said cones, and means for operating the said cups independently of each other, whereby the shaft .is rotated at the ispee'd of the cone brought into play by the engagement with it of its coacting cup.

7'. In transmission-gearing for auto mobiles,

the combination witha driven shaft, of a lowspeed gear loosely mounted thereupon and carrying a low-speed friction-clutch cone, a backward-motion friction-clutch cone, a medium-speed gear loosely mounted upon. the

' said shaft and carrying a medium-speed friction-clutch cone, a high-speed friction-cone, a

frame-plate located between the said media mspeed gear and the low-speed gear, pinions carried by the said plate andinterposed between the low-speedv gear and the backward-motion cone, pinions carried by the said plate and in terposed between the medium-speed gear and the high-speed cone, friction-clutch cups connected with the driven shaft-for-rotating the same; and means for operating any one of the said cups independently of the others for coaction with their respective cones, whereby the I said shaft, is rotated at the speed of'the cone brought into play, all of the said cones being constantly driven in the same direction with the exception of the backward-motion cone which rotates in an opposite direction from the others. i 4 i .v

8. In transmission-gearingforautomqbiles,

the combination with a iven shaft, ofa gear loosely mounted thereupon and carryinga friction-clutch cone, another friction-clutch cone also loosely turning with respect to the said shaft, means for driving the cone last mentioned, gearing for driving the said gear from the fricti0n-cone last mentioned, frietion-clutch cups for rotating the said shaft,

meansjor independently operating the said,

. Witnesses:

, MI H ELJ. MURPHY,

BERT VAN TASSELL.

presence of two subscrib- EDGAR .WE'IITCRA'FT. 

